Demolition & asbestos focus

Demolition & asbestos focus

NFDC

The National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) is an industry association dedicated to the continual improvement of the demolition industry in order to benefit its members, customers and the general public. Through hard work and dedication, the NFDC continues to raise the profile of the demolition sector ensuring that training, health & safety and improved working conditions are at the forefront of everything it does.

All members of the NFDC agree to abide by the Federation rules that encompass its Code of Conduct. All standards are monitored and policed annually through the Accredited Site Audit Scheme, which is something that has been welcomed by many of the UK’s leading main contractors.

The NFDC is represented on a number of external committees, which cover areas that include British Standards, training and health & safety. The NFDC is represented regionally, from Scotland and Northern Ireland through to London and the southern counties, with regular meetings being held to provide an important link for members.

Membership with the NFDC presents many opportunities to meet new contacts, whilst at the same time exchanging views with likeminded individuals. The NFDC regularly seeks views from its members and there are often opportunities to participate in the Federation’s many social events, including the Annual Convention.

In addition to its work, the NFDC continues to highlight the importance of the demolition sector through nominations and awards at industry recognised events.

Employers of building maintenance and repair workers are required to carry out a risk assessment before undertaking any work which exposes, or is liable to expose, employees to asbestos. They must take the appropriate steps required by the Asbestos Regulations to prevent or reduce these risks.

In many cases, the employers and their workers have little or no information about the premises where they will undertake work and are not aware if materials containing asbestos are present. Consequently, it is difficult for them to consider the risks, or decide if precautions may be needed.

A duty to manage the risk from asbestos in non-domestic premises was therefore added to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations in 2002 to address this issue. These requirements have since been brought forward unchanged in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 as Regulation 4.

Those who own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for premises that may contain asbestos, will either have:

A legal duty to manage the risk from asbestos material; or

A legal duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk

They will be required to manage the risk from asbestos by:

Finding out if there is asbestos in the premises, its extent and what condition it is in

Presuming the materials contain asbestos, unless you have strong evidence that they do not

Making and keeping up to date a record of the location and condition of the ACM’s or presumed ACM’s in their premises

Assessing the risk from the material

Preparing a plan that sets out in detail how they are going to manage the risk from this material

Taking the steps needed to put their plan into action

Reviewing and monitoring their plan and the arrangements made to put it in place; and

Providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work or disturb it

ARCA is the leading supplier of asbestos awareness training aimed at building and maintenance workers. To find out more or to arrange a no obligation meeting to discuss your employees asbestos awareness training needs, please contact ARCA on 01283 531126.